Sulky-seat.



'W4 Tmaslas PATBNTED MAR. 2o, 1906. o. o. LAPHAM.

SULKY SEAT.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 6. 1904.

H EQ2.

PATENT" onriion.

CHARLES of LAPHAM, or NEW. YORK, N. Y;

No. 815,841. l

specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 20, 1906,

Application filed September 6,1904. Serial No. 223,367.

To -l whom it may concern."

Beit known that I, CHARLES C. LAPHAM, a

citizen of the United States, residing 'at 849 St.' Nicholas avenue, New York, in the county 'of New York, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sulky-Seats, of which the following is a true and full description, reference being had .to the accompanying drawings, which show my present improvement.

This improvement consists kof mechanical means whereby the occupant of a sulky can vary the position not only of the center of gravity of himself and the sulky, but he can also so adjust the various elements which vmake for speed when starting, during run- A A. rig. 21S a plan View 0f the Seat. 1 rig.

l slide freely therein.

3 is a side elevation of the seat'in positionl on a sulky of simple construction. Fig. 4 is plan view also showing seat in position. Fig.`

5 is a modification of the ratchet shownl in Fig. 1. l

The seat 1, which can be made of wood or metal or other suitable material, is secured to two light tubes 2 by means of distance-pieces The seat "1 and tubes 2 being secured together move as one piece, and the tubes 2 are made to move freely in the tubes 3. The tubes 3 are each provided with aslot extending part of their length, as shown in Fig. 1, to

enablel the distance-piece v1() to move and also acts as a stop to limit the movement of the seat 1 in each direction. l

Mounted on the seat 1 is a iiat steel pawl or detent 8, which engages in the teethof a rack `7, which rack i's'secured to the tube 3. This ydetent and rack serve to prevent a backward movement of the seat after it has been drawn'` forward a desirable amount by the occupant of the sulky. The tubes 3 are securely mounted on the framework of the sulky 4.

The'seat 1 is provided with avcushion of some yielding material firmlysecured to the seat proper. This cushion-seat is preferably corrugated, as shown, and can be made of rubber or cloth, which will prevent the occupant of the sulky from slipping on the seat.

Each end of the slot Fig. 5 shows a modification ofthe means for holding the seat inl position after it has.

been moved by the driver in either-direction,

either while in motion or otherwise. v yIt will be seen that the detent 13, which is aflat steel spring, is capable lof movement in either diy rection over the rack 12, and the seat can be moved against the action of this spring, but will be secured thereby in any desired position. v

The collars 12 are arranged to-be adjustably secured tothe tube 3 in order to limit the movement of the sliding seat in either direction, as desired.

' It has been demonstrated beyond question that thev best results are obtained when a horse is hitched to a sulky so that the center of gravity of the sulky, together with its occupant, is located sufliciently back of the perpendicular line which passes through the cen- 'ter of the wheel-axis so that the pullon the .reins'will just -move the center of gravity suiciently forward to be on the before-mentioned perpendicular line. In such an arrangement there is no weight on thehorses back; neither is there any lifting on the girth.

It is well known that a horse does not pull the same amount steadily against the drivers reins during a run ofany great distance. In fact, usually the pull is hardest when the horse is fresh and diminishes as the horse becomes tired. Hence the necessity forv a moving .seat in order that the driver can so adjust the lcenter of gravity ofthe sulky and himself to suit the ull of the horse.

It Wil readily be seen that the driver can move the seat`forward by the-action of his body, because his feet are secured i-n the stirrups. As the horse tires the ,driver moves the seat forward a little at a time, and conse.- quently brings his body forward, and as a result equalizes the various forces which make for speed. y l y I do not limitv myself to the particular form of arrangement shown, as many modifications could be made without Ydeparting .from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is-.. n y 1. A sulky rovided with a seat arranged vto be moved y the occupant by the movement of his body, when the sulky is in mo- \tion, to produce a desirable balance of forces,

substantially as'vdescribed.'

2. A-sulky provided with a seat arranged to be slidablygmoved by the occupant by the IOO- IOS.

movement of his body, when the sulliy is in motion, to produce a desirable balance of forces, substantially as described.

3. A sulky provided with a seat arranged to be moved by the occupant by the movement of his body, When the sulkyis in motion, means whereby the seat is prevented from returning after each successive movement, substantially as described.

4. A sulliy provided with a seat, slidably mounted and arranged to be moved by the occupant by the movement of his body, when the sulky is in motion, means whereby the seat is prevented from returning after each successive forward movement, substantially as described.

5. A sulky provided with a movable seat mounted on guides or slides arranged to be moved by the occupant by the movement of his body, When the sulky is in motion, means including a rack and detent for holding the seat in a desired position, substantially as described.

6. A sulliy provided with a slidable seat, provided with a cushion of yielding material, the seat arranged so as to be moved by the occupant by the movement of his body, when the sulky is in motion, substantially as described.

7. A sulky provided with a slidable seat, provided with a cushion of yielding material,

the seat arranged so as to be moved b y the occupant bythe movement of his body, when the sulkyis in motion, and means for prevent ing the return of the seat, substantially as described.

8. A sulky provided with a seat slidably mounted, arranged to be moved b r the occupant by the movement of his body, when the sully is in motion, adjustable means for li1niting the extent of' the sliding movement, substantially as described.

9. A sulky provided with a seat slidably mounted, arranged to be moved bj the occupant by the movement of his body, when the sulliy is in motion, adjustable means consisting of collars for limiting the extent of the sliding movement, substantially as described.

l0. A sulky provided with a seat slidably mounted, arranged to be moved by the occupant by the movement of his body, when the sulky is in motion, adjustable means for limiting the extent of the sliding movement, means for retaining the seat in a desired position, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subserilng witnesses.

CHARLES C. LAPHAM. litnesses W. S. TrMMrs, LEON LEwIN. 

